Articles
Oct 01 2004
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More than the letter of the law
The narrow legal definition of rape, recently reiterated in the Sakshi case, has been criticized by Indian and international women's and children's organizations, who insist that broader interpretations are needed to protect victims, and also to serve justice. Shivkami RaviChandran says we haven't heard the last of this debate.
Oct 01 2004
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Entitled to subsidies!
According to the European Union's plans for agricultural reforms, subsidies received by farmers will now become their entitlement until 2013. The big businesses that get most of these subsidies are quite happy; meanwhile the subsidies continue to create starvation and death in the developing world, notes Devinder Sharma.
Oct 01 2004
An election-year scarcity
: An election-year scarcity
Severe shortages of power and water are predicted for the coming months in much of the North. Himanshu Thakkar looks beyond the 'natural phenomena' that are blamed.
Oct 01 2004
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Blowing back the smoke
Reducing tobacco consumption is a multi-dimensional and complex challenge. Varupi Jain reports on an organisation that is lending its VOICE with strong efforts.
Oct 01 2004
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Draft RTI law needs sharpening
Chitta Behera points out that the otherwise progressive draft Right to Information Act 2004 (prepared by the National Advisory Council) could do with some additional fine-tuning while still under review within the offices of our government.
Oct 01 2004
Pushing an environmental policy
: Pushing an environmental policy
The deadline for public comments from the draft National Environmental Policy expires on Oct 31. Sudhirendar Sharma reports on the context for the development of this policy and what it may portend.
Oct 01 2004
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Knowing our legislators
The Maharashtra elections are just around the corner and analyses are beginning to emerge on candidate background disclosures. But not long ago, 541 MPs were elected to the Lok Sabha. Samuel Paul and M Vivekananda of the Public Affairs Centre report findings from an analysis on our MPs' backgrounds.
Oct 01 2004
Science education on a slippery path
: Science education on a slippery path

A Shanghai-based university's ranking of world universities has relegated the highly-rated Indian Institute of Science and the IITs to the bottom of its list, shattering the comfortable assumptions of Indian academics who pride themselves on their achievements. Summiya Yasmeen reports.

Oct 01 2004
Radio policy: untying the knots
: Radio policy: untying the knots

The government continues to defy the Supreme Court's orders on establishing more free and better regulated broadcasting. At the same time, its sky-high license fees have driven profit out of the industry. Subramaniam Vincent notes the knots the Broadcasting Ministry has tied itself into.

Oct 01 2004
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Gudiya's choice
The recent controversy over a soldier returning after four years to 'claim' his wife is telling. It illustrates that where women are concerned, everyone has an agenda: the panchayat, the media and the media-consuming middle class says Kalpana Sharma.
Oct 01 2004
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Believers in free air
Where other nationalisms insisted on a homogeneity of attitudes and worldviews, this one - from Gandhi, Tagore, Ambedkar, and Nehru - respected and even celebrated the linguistic, cultural and religious diversity of its peoples. Such was their idea of India. Ramachandra Guha continues his series on the great patriots.
Oct 01 2004
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Citizen Lakshmi
She lives in a six feet by eight feet hut in Mumbai and pays a whopping Rs.400 per month for electricity that lights one bulb and a table fan. She is a leader of her community, and yet some better off want her disenfranchised. Kalpana Sharma rebuts a new divisive cry in Mumbai.
Oct 01 2004
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Majority in the breach
The Justice Sampath committee looking into the devastating Kumbakonam fire is expected to report its findings on school safety in the next few months. But Tamilnadu has already seen other reforms reports with little real change. Will the upcoming recommendations bring any fruit? Krithika Ramalingam finds out.
Oct 01 2004
Less populous, more powerful
: Less populous, more powerful
Ashwin Mahesh shows how some states wield more power in Parliament than they would if statewise seat shares were fixed on the basis of population alone.
Oct 01 2004
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What happened in Vidarbha
In the Lok Sabha polls, the BSP devastated the Congress-NCP alliance. In the Maharashtra elections, the Sonia Gandhi factor appears to have bailed the Congress out of big trouble. But this time, the BSP wrecked the BJP-Shiv Sena combine in many places, notes P Sainath.
Oct 01 2004
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Freeing our heroes
We have been taught to remember Tagore as essentially a Bengali, Nehru as a Congressman, and Ambedkar as a Dalit. But their examples remain relevant to many others, says Ramachandra Guha.
Oct 01 2004
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Preparing for the wrong war
Conventional wars are passé, but the military planning for conflict is still rooted in the past. Meanwhile, human security does not get the deserved attention. Firdaus Ahmed wonders how this can win or keep the peace.
Oct 01 2004
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Young flesh in the trade
A recent report commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission finds that many children and women listing as 'missing' are in fact trafficked. Malvika Kaul reports.
Oct 01 2004
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The Muslim growth rate and the media
Significantly, the copy was less sensational than the headlines in almost all the papers, says Ammu Joseph.
Oct 01 2004
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Her mind, her country
The State Council for Educational Research and Training in Delhi has taken a surprisingly different approach in its preparation of text books for students in classes 6-8. Dipta Bhog was coordinator of the team for Civics books.